Government spending vs gdp per capita in Iceland

Iceland: Government spending vs gdp per capita was 46.54 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
46.54
Change on year
up 3.4%
World rank
23rd
of 151 countries
All-time high
62.78
in 2008
All-time low
5.84
in 1915
Years of data
116
1909–2024

Government spending vs gdp per capita in Iceland, 1909–2024

0204060190919662024

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

Iceland recorded 46.54 for government spending vs gdp per capita in 2024.

That represents a change of up 3.4% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government spending vs gdp per capita in Iceland peaked at 62.78 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 5.84, in 1915.

Iceland ranks 23rd of 151 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Government spending vs gdp per capita in Iceland, year by year

Annual values for Government spending vs gdp per capita in Iceland, 1909 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1909 7.98
1910 7.37 -7.6%
1911 7.23 -2.0%
1912 7.69 +6.4%
1913 6.58 -14.4%
1914 7.38 +12.1%
1915 5.84 -20.8%
1916 6.65 +13.8%
1917 15.15 +128.0%
1918 10.79 -28.8%
1919 7.82 -27.6%
1920 13.98 +78.8%
1921 12 -14.1%
1922 11.03 -8.1%
1923 10.51 -4.7%
1924 7.85 -25.4%
1925 8.13 +3.6%
1926 10.34 +27.2%
1927 9.66 -6.6%
1928 8.87 -8.2%
1929 9.75 +10.0%
1930 13.04 +33.7%
1931 12.73 -2.4%
1932 12.32 -3.3%
1933 11.89 -3.4%
1934 13.3 +11.9%
1935 12.53 -5.8%
1936 12.33 -1.6%
1937 11.94 -3.2%
1938 11.87 -0.5%
1939 11.27 -5.1%
1940 9.19 -18.4%
1941 10.37 +12.8%
1942 11.43 +10.2%
1943 11.32 -0.9%
1944 13.74 +21.4%
1945 15 +9.1%
1946 20.2 +34.7%
1947 23.89 +18.3%
1948 22.59 -5.5%
1949 24.74 +9.5%
1950 21.19 -14.3%
1951 22.65 +6.9%
1952 22.04 -2.7%
1953 24.48 +11.1%
1954 22.5 -8.1%
1955 23.1 +2.7%
1956 26.85 +16.2%
1957 29.05 +8.2%
1958 32.62 +12.3%
1959 36.04 +10.5%
1960 33.15 -8.0%
1961 25.31 -23.6%
1962 24.9 -1.6%
1963 26.24 +5.4%
1964 28.21 +7.5%
1965 28.28 +0.3%
1966 28.31 +0.1%
1967 31.65 +11.8%
1968 33.25 +5.1%
1969 30.3 -8.9%
1970 29.85 -1.5%
1971 32.54 +9.0%
1972 33.28 +2.3%
1973 33.65 +1.1%
1974 36.64 +8.9%
1975 36.89 +0.7%
1976 32.12 -12.9%
1977 31.71 -1.3%
1978 31.93 +0.7%
1979 32.44 +1.6%
1980 33.9 +4.5%
1981 35.28 +4.1%
1982 35.98 +2.0%
1983 37.77 +5.0%
1984 34.66 -8.2%
1985 37 +6.7%
1986 39.47 +6.7%
1987 36.49 -7.6%
1988 41.42 +13.5%
1989 42.93 +3.7%
1990 42.58 -0.8%
1991 42.85 +0.6%
1992 44.68 +4.3%
1993 45.1 +0.9%
1994 44.97 -0.3%
1995 44.37 -1.3%
1996 43.94 -1.0%
1997 41.32 -6.0%
1998 40.24 -2.6%
1999 44.77 +11.3%
2000 44.26 -1.1%
2001 46.91 +6.0%
2002 44.99 -4.1%
2003 47.23 +5.0%
2004 46.22 -2.1%
2005 44.23 -4.3%
2006 44.31 +0.2%
2007 44.12 -0.4%
2008 62.78 +42.3%
2009 53.34 -15.0%
2010 48.19 -9.6%
2011 49.97 +3.7%
2012 47.12 -5.7%
2013 45.63 -3.2%
2014 45.36 -0.6%
2015 43.02 -5.1%
2016 45.8 +6.4%
2017 43.82 -4.3%
2018 43.16 -1.5%
2019 43.05 -0.3%
2020 50.16 +16.5%
2021 48.71 -2.9%
2022 45.93 -5.7%
2023 45 -2.0%
2024 46.54 +3.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1900s 7.98 7.98 7.98 1
1910s 8.25 5.84 15.15 10
1920s 10.21 7.85 13.98 10
1930s 12.32 11.27 13.3 10
1940s 16.25 9.19 24.74 10
1950s 26.05 21.19 36.04 10
1960s 28.96 24.9 33.25 10
1970s 33.1 29.85 36.89 10
1980s 37.49 33.9 42.93 10
1990s 43.48 40.24 45.1 10
2000s 47.84 44.12 62.78 10
2010s 45.51 43.02 49.97 10
2020s 47.27 45 50.16 5

Countries ranked near Iceland

  1. 20 Slovakia 47.12 compare
  2. 21 Hungary 46.87 compare
  3. 22 Luxembourg 46.87 compare
  4. 24 Slovenia 46.47 compare
  5. 25 Maldives 46.08 compare
  6. 26 Brazil 45.68 compare

See the full ranking of 151 places →

More economy & growth data for Iceland

All data for Iceland →

Frequently asked questions

What is government spending vs gdp per capita in Iceland?
Government spending vs gdp per capita in Iceland was 46.54 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest government spending vs gdp per capita recorded in Iceland?
The highest recorded value was 62.78 in 2008.
What is the lowest government spending vs gdp per capita recorded in Iceland?
The lowest recorded value was 5.84 in 1915.
How does Iceland rank for government spending vs gdp per capita?
Iceland ranks 23rd out of 151 countries with data for 2024.
Is government spending vs gdp per capita rising or falling in Iceland?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Iceland data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending vs gdp per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Government spending vs gdp per capita in Iceland. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/government-spending-vs-gdp-per-capita/iceland/

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About this data

Indicator
Government spending vs gdp per capita
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
151 places, 9,265 data points, 1800–2024
Last refreshed